Inspiration Review [ with pics! ]

[purplemusik]

Better late then never, right? Here is my Inspiration review from September 5th-10th, 2011. We went for my husband's 30th birthday. It was Me, My husband, My daughter[ 5 ], my son [ 7 months ], and my aunt and uncle [ their first cruise! ]. We went to Grand Cayman and Cozomel.

 

We had never been to the Tampa port before but it's only about 2 hours away so had plenty of time to get there. My uncle packs EVERYTHING and brought us walky talkies. Worked out great in the car ride there too since we got turned around. We talked to each other through the walky talky and a police officer came on and told us to make a left and keep on going and we'd see the ship! Nice of him!

 

 

We got on and went straight to the buffet. I was a little worried because it was so packed and HOT inside the ship, as if there was no air conditioning and I was hoping it wouldn't be this way the whole cruise [ it wasn't! ] but realized it was just because, duh...nobody was in the cabin yet!

 

 

We took a walk around to check stuff out:

 

 

[purplemusik]

 

 

Can you tell he's a breastfed baby?? :)

 

We were assigned late dining but once we got on the ship we requested to switch it to anytime dining. They did and that worked out so much better with the kids.

 

 

 

There were hurricanes we were running from so hubby got quite sick during dinner and went back to the room. I wonder if it was from the snails? j/k LOL

 

Back in the room was our first towel animal. Raven [ my daughter ] thought this was the BEST thing and every day after our room attendent asked her what she wanted that night. Very nice of him!

 

[purplemusik]

The next day was a day at sea!

My husband and my daughter hung out at the pool and splash area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[susie8862]

Great pics and beautiful children. Thank you

[purplemusik]

We just relaxed and walked around the ship. I hung out with my baby boy and we got ready for dinner. I have to say, I was a little disappointed with the service at dinner. The entire cruise, we were NEVER ONCE asked if we wanted something to drink [ besides from the bar - if we asked them for tea or milk, they'd tell us they weren't the server for that. We'd even ask the actual server and would get the same response. ].

 

We got ready for dinner and took a few pics:

 

 

 

 

 

eating a lemon!

[purplemusik]

 

 

 

gator fritters [ doesnt' compare to gator bites but very good! ]

 

 

 

 

Got back to our room and Raven was pleased to see this:

[purplemusik]

 

Logan was quite interested in the towel animal too!

 

Been on several cruises- never saw a little person before!

 

 

Next day was Grand Cayman! My hubby LOVES Grand Cayman [ I tell him that's because he's never done St. Thomas yet but....oneday he'll go too]

 

waiting to get on the tender

 

 

 

[purplemusik]

Leaving work- I'll continue later!

[JohnSpo]

I have been on 4 Carnival cruises. Inspiration in Sept 2003 was my first Ship also out of Tampa with Western Caribbean ports Cozumel, Costa Maya, Grand Cayman, and Belize. This is a nice ship. Not too big and easy to navigate. All great ports. I have since been on Triumph, Victory and Liberty. All great ships but Inspiration in one of my favorites.

 

Tampa is a nice port. Easy to get in and out. Tampa has some nice views sailing out of port.

 

Great photos purplemusik. Thanks for sharing.

Edited April 28, 2012 by JohnSpo

[CRUISE4JANE]

Enjoyed your pictures. The Inspiration was the first ship I went on. Frankly, I liked it better than the Conquest. Wish it was back here in NOLA. Cute kids. :)

Edited April 28, 2012 by CRUISE4JANE

[purplemusik]

We did the Turtle Farm, Island Tour, Hell excursion. I've done it before but thought it was something the little ones/ my Aunt and Uncle would like. I would def. reccomend it.

 

First stop- Rum Factory. The only thing I was bummed about with this one is usually they have so many to try and choose from but this time they had 2 out to try. Not a big deal but I was telling my aunt she'd have plenty to try and choose from and that wasn't the case. She did enjoy the ones she got though!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[purplemusik]

Next stop- HELL!

 

 

 

 

 

Fresh Coconut drinks!

[purplemusik]

We drive around the city on our way to the turtle farm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We get to the turtle farm and get right into it :)

 

 

[ripjerry95]

Thanks for your review. Nice looking family!

[purplemusik]

Babies!

 

 

 

 

 

[purplemusik]

 

 

 

 

 

They were expecting more babies! They put them in here so they can still dig their way out.

 

 

Raven did NOT like this idea!

 

 

Turtle soup? My husband said it was GREAT!

[purplemusik]

I'm so sorry! I completely forgot to add that we went on the underwater boat as part of that turtle farm excursion. It was OK. I wouldn't pay the extra to add this again- the turtle farm/hell/ tour was enough. We got into a boat [ that stays above water ] and we go underneth and they drive us around but it felt too set up. " Here's a boat that sank.....look- there's a fish....." the kids enjoyed it though :)

 

 

walking down into the boat

 

 

My uncle holding the baby - it was bench like seats so this gives an idea of what it looks like in there.

 

 

[reerun25]

Enjoying the review!!

[vivavegas]

Thanks for taking time to share your review. Really enjoyed the photos.. Cute kids too!:)

[purplemusik]

Time to go back to the ship.

 

 

 

Passed this "pirate" boat that's there every time we go :)

 

We got back to the room and ordered room service before we all took a nap!

 

 

Woke up in JUST enough time for dinner!

 

 

[purplemusik]

My husband did wear jeans to dinner that night because RIGHT as we were walking out, my sweet son spit up all over him! He grabbed whatever was right there and met us back at the elevator.

 

 

 

Jerk Pork- normally I would've have tried this but I did and it was SO GOOD!

 

" Um....Daddy... my turn!"

 

We walked around a bit after dinner:

 

 

 

[welshcorgie]

Awsome pictures and really cute kids!!

[purplemusik]

We got back to the room and found this:

 

 

The kids were THRILLED!

 

 

 

 

We hung out in the room after this- watched some movies- and went to bed early for Cozomel in the morning!

[purplemusik]

Next day- Cozomel! We didn't go through the cruiseline for our dolphin tickets. We ended up getting a great deal through them directly- 2 for $99! MUCH better then the $159+tax per person on the ship!

 

 

 

 

the mall

 

[purplemusik]

This was my hubby's actual 30th bday so we went and ate lunch at Senior Frogs before our excursion.

 

 

 

 

Don't worry- hers is only Orange soda!

 

I went to the bathroom to change the baby and laughed at these:

 

 

 

foot petal to flush? Wish they had these in the US because I use my foot to flush anyway!